Before I share my thoughts I believe you should read this article that was on the MotobuRyu site.
2021-08-18
Translated by Motobu Naoki
*The original article was written in
August 2018.
When we hold Motobu-ryū seminars overseas,
we are sometimes asked about kiai (short shout). The term "kiai" here
refers to the kiai that is emitted in the kata.
Historically, it is thought that kiai was
not used in the kata. In
the old days, people in Okinawa practiced martial arts in hiding so as not to
be seen. Of course, making noise was strictly forbidden.
For example, Motobu Chōki said the following in an article about a roundtable discussion in the Ryukyu Shimpo before
World War II.
What was the goal of the ancient
martial artists? In the old days, we used to go to Sensei's house secretly and
quietly in order to learn techniques. We went to visit Sensei before dawn while
it was very dark, so that we would not be seen by anyone else. When we
practiced bō, we used to wrap straw around the bō so that it would not make a
clacking noise. (Ryukyu Shimpo, November 10, 1936)
According to the above, in the old days, when training in makiwara
or bō, one was careful not to make any noise, and the mention of bō probably refers to pair training, such
as kumi-bō, or training to hit a target with bō, such as standing wood strikes.
In such cases, the clinking of the bō would make the training known to others, so
the bō was wrapped with straw to prevent it from making noise.
Although karate kata are not mentioned
here, it is easy to imagine
that karate practitioners did not emit kiai even in kata, given the way they
practiced in those days without making any inadvertent sounds.
How was it in the case of
demonstrations? To
begin with, it was rare to perform a karate kata in front of many people in the
Ryukyu Kingdom.
There were occasions when karate kata were performed in front of the king after
the enthronement ceremony, but this was an event that occurred only once
every few decades. Therefore, it is difficult to know from historical documents
whether or not kiai was used. Even from the standpoint of etiquette, it is
unlikely that it would have been desirable to shout loudly at the king.
The kiai in kata probably started after
the war. In
particular, it seems to have become widespread after karate competitions began
officially in the 1960s in order to appeal strongly to judges and spectators.
Even if it was used before that time, it was on a personal level and not a
tradition that had existed for a long time.
I believe the
author make several valid points about the use of KIAI in prior pre-karate and
older karate training. That KIAi was not practiced when training.
Of course when I
was taught my Isshinryu there were KIAI points in the kata I studied, 2 or 3 of
them depending on the kata.
But KIAI ia a
funny word in that silent KIAI is as real as the
verbal KIAI.
The act of KIAI
might be described as an instantaneous tightening of the diaphragm the
expulsion of the breath when a technique is so focused. The technique is locked
in to deliver as much power into the technique as possible.
Thus you can
think of the use of KIAI as a way to maximize power in a technique more
destructive toward the opponent.
The
silent KIAI can do this as much as possible as can the verbal KIAI.
There
is a separate use of the verbal KIAI, to deliver a very loud, explosive sound
that tan startle an opponent. This can be tied to a technique or can be done
separate from a technique to immobilize an opponent at that instant creating an
opening in the opponent to exploit.
There is much to
thing about.
No comments:
Post a Comment